Fleming College

Haliburton, ON – March 22, 2012 – The Haliburton School of The Arts will welcome Maureen McKay, a full-time faculty member with the Royal Conservatory of Music since 1980, to instruct beginning and experienced harp students in July. This addition to the already diverse Haliburton School of The Arts program will further enhance the unique, creative environment in the quaint lakeside village of Haliburton.

McKay has been a harp examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music since 1993 and was senior contributor for the current Harp Syllabus, which establishes grade level requirements for harp students in Canada. She was a harpist with the North York Symphony, and developed a Celtic harp program at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton, where she taught for many years.

McKay has a master’s degree in Human Physiology from the University Toronto. She uses this to bring an added dimension of ergonomic awareness to harp playing, incorporating injury prevention with skill development. McKay enjoys working with students of all ages and levels of harp playing.

In the inspiring setting of the Highlands of Haliburton, students can now learn or advance their skills on this majestic instrument. An introductory Saturday workshop will provide a glimpse, while a weeklong course provides an opportunity for immersion. Students will learn or review the fundamentals of harp technique, and play several Celtic tunes in a relaxed and inspiring environment.

This course is accepted as an elective credit toward Fleming College’s Visual & Creative Arts Diploma.

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For more information:

Program information: 705-457-1680 or 1-866-353-6464 ext. 3, createit@hsta.ca, www.hsta.ca.

Media contact: Leigh McEachran, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or leighm@flemingc.on.ca